Blog Post

Travel Consultant Sandra

  • By lemaster
  • 26 Sep, 2017

Did you know that the Buddhism was brought to China from India during the Tang Dynasty and it was the most influential of the religions? In Xian, China the emperors built a City Wall to protect themselves as a military defense. The Wall is 9 miles long and it goes all around the city. It took 12 years to build it and now it's about 600 years old........... China is one of the most interesting destinations to visit. Come and join is at The Alamo Travel Group for some very exciting deals!!!

By lemaster 26 Sep, 2017

I have always had a passion to travel and learn about other cultures. As I grew older, I also became passionate about helping others have the same experience. I spent large parts of my childhood in Tampico and Mexico City, Mexico, and my family often traveled to the Caribbean on cruise ships. This instilled a sense of passion for seeing the world and I promised myself that I would do it as soon as I was able. After college I saw the opportunity to go overseas and decided to pursue my dreams.

As an experienced cruise ship professional for several lines including Disney and Seabourn, I sailed all over the world working in both guest services and the tour department. This gave me the opportunity to learn extensively about cruise ships and the benefits they bring to passengers. Working in the tour department allowed me to learn about port destinations all over the world and how cruise ship passengers can maximize their experience in each location. I’ve always loved being on the water and having the opportunity to sail on most of the world’s oceans and major rivers was a thrill.

Cruising gave me a chance to spend a lot of time in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Greece, Turkey, and Russia. I was also able to visit areas outside of the normal tourist demographic such as Iceland and Greenland. As the world’s top tourist destination, Western Europe is well-versed in welcoming outsiders and making them feel welcome. The history, architecture, and food are all top-notch and there is always a major festival or event happening somewhere. My personal favorite country to visit is Italy as I meshed well with the locals and can’t get enough Italian food. However, my favorite city is Barcelona. I’ve never had a bad experience in this wonderful location and I always recommend it to first-time European travelers.

As a Corporate Training Manager for Holland America Group, I also had the opportunity to work first-hand with tour operators in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, and India. Working with these top-class local businesses allowed me to learn how to market and sell a quality tour package to visitors wanting to experience the local culture. Each society has a different way of marketing and selling itself to outsiders and it’s important to be there in person to understand it. The Asian culture can sometimes be intimidating to first-time travelers used to Western settings, but I have grown to love it and I find others do as well.

I love to explore the countryside of places I visit. I’m a passionate scuba diver and hiker, and the sheer variety of geography in the world is fascinating. Whether it’s climbing mountains in rural Peru, scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, or hiking in the Avatar-like setting of Huangshan Mountain in Eastern China, I’ve seen a bit of everything. Everywhere I go, the first things that come to my mind are: I would love for others to experience this. Who would enjoy this, and who would prefer something else? New ideas to promote wonderful places are always in my mind and I hope to share these ideas with others.

Countries I have visited:

 

I lived in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea from 2008 to 2010 and in Shanghai, China from 2010 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2014. During my stay in Asia, I immersed myself in Asian cultures and learned how to provide the best tour packages to new visitors. As an emerging tourist destination and a country with thousands of years of tradition, China has something to offer for everyone. A common misconception for travelers is the notion that China has one culture. In fact, each region offers a unique experience whether it be food, architecture, dialect, or even language! I spent several years visiting popular destinations such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Xi’An, Chengdu, as many national parks.

I also lived in Arequipa, Peru in 2012 for work travel and to perfect my Spanish. During my stay in Peru, I travelled extensively throughout Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Columbia and studied tourism with local agents. South America has both the advantage and disadvantage of being an emerging market. On the positive side, this means that costs are lower, there is less crowding, and a lot of the culture is untouched and authentic. On the other hand, this means that using a travel agent with local knowledge is important and guarantees a smoother and more-satisfying trip. I knew that my personal and professional experience would allow me to assist visitors in experiencing the wonders of Latin America.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting Australia, New Zealand, and islands in Micronesia and French Polynesia for the past three years. Aside from working with top-notch operators, I had the opportunity to make local contacts and spend time visiting the top tourist destinations in the region. Whether it’s the big city life of Sydney or Melbourne, the outdoor adventures of exploring New Zealand, or soaking up sun in Bora Bora and Tahiti, there’s something for everyone.

 

So overall, I would describe myself as an experienced and passionate traveler who is selling what he loves. I hope to meet you soon. Wherever you want to travel in this world, don’t let anything stop you from achieving your goals. Have a wonderful day!

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